Derek's New 290mm Quad Custom Build

[Graham Lawrie]

Derek, not sure if you have done this:)

1. Calibrate accelerometer.
2.Use master control and tick box and run all motors at once , props off to max then minimum.

[Derek]

Yep...done all that

[Graham Lawrie]

Have you flashed esc,s with BLHelisuite?

[Graham Lawrie]

Is Naze back working?

[Derek]

Everything that I've done in the Naze seems to be working

[Tony]

Have you got a good 5 volt supply to the FC board Derek. My 5v comes from one of my ESC's, maybe try a different ESC if yours is similar.

[Graham Lawrie]

If i have issues with the Naze i do a reset to factory settings, as i have always found standard settings work well:)

[Graham Lawrie]

What about calibrating esc,s max throttle settings, switch TX on and put to max throttle then plug in power to all esc,s until you get the double beep then tx to minimum?

[Tony]

Just had another thought... You haven't got more than one 5volts connected to Naze have you..? The 4 cables from the ESC's to Naze board should have 3 of the red wires pulled out leaving only ONE red connected to naze.

[Derek]

These Velotech escs have linear becs. Therefore, the red wires don't need to be removed. I didn't have them removed on the previous quad

[Tony]

Just a thought Derek, my quad only has one red wire connected

[Derek]

In the directions for these escs, it explained that these have a linear bec and didn't need the red wire removed. I can surely remove 3 of the red wires and see what happens

[Tony]

Well if Velotec are saying there BEC outputs can be connected together then it's a unique design I recon. Linear power supplies are nowhere near as good as switched mode ones, they generate too much heat. It's certainly worth trying to remove 3 of them Derek....

[Derek]

I didn't know that linear bec's weren't as good a switched mode bec's.

[Tony]

The regulator you bought for the leds is a linear reg, simple 3 pin device, a switched mode uses several components to get the voltage you require and uses high speed switching techniques with an inductor and mosfet driver, I won't go into details Derek....lol

[Graham Lawrie]

Good electronic learning for me Tony

[Tony]

Good electronic learning for me Tony

Anything you want to know Graham just ask mate, I'll answer all I can about electronics.... Generally simple for me, it's all I know tbh..

[Lee]

Have you checked for shorting to the frame Derek?
Just touch different parts of the carbon frame with your voltmeter, to see if theres a short.

[Derek]

Have you checked for shorting to the frame Derek?
Just touch different parts of the carbon frame with your voltmeter, to see if theres a short.

No, I haven't checked to see if the carbon frame is causing a short but every solder joint was covered with heat shrink.

I've not touched the quad all day. I've just stayed away from it so that I could calm down and regroup myself. Speaking of that, I apologize for all my outbursts last night. I sure was bent out of shape.

I have taken the quad down to it's individual parts, again. I had so intended on getting all new esc's. I was so set on getting new esc's that I did order up 4 new Afro 20amp esc's and the Afro USB Programmer. While I'm waiting for the new esc's, I will surely try to assemble the quad, with the Velotech esc's that I have, and we'll see what happens. Since Lee mentioned to be sure that the frame isn't causing a short, I will pay close attention to that. Thanks for the clear thinking, guys!

[Derek]

I just got done soldering the the esc's, again. I put all new wires on the esc's (positive, negative, and motor wires). Fired up Cleanflight, clicked on "Motors" tab and tested the motors again. This time, 3 of the motors spin up normally but one of the 3 stops immediately after the throttle is dropped. It's as if the brake is active. The 4th motor still stutters. No worries....I'm calm, lol. I'll just put the quad on the shelf for a bit until my new Afro esc's come in next week. It's very unfortunate! I was hoping to fly the quad this weekend.....but, I guess that's just the way it goes. When the new esc's get here, I'll have all new esc's, all new motors, all new props, and a new Mobius cam.

Life goes on. In the meantime, I'll work on my other builds and I'll be reviewing Dan's write up on flashing esc's to blheli.